The federal government has approved a policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr” title.
The decision, approved by the federal executive council (FEC), introduces a new regulatory framework to guide the award and use of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions, with sanctions for defaulters.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, said the policy became necessary following concerns over the increasing misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates.
Alausa said the reform is aimed at safeguarding academic integrity, restoring public confidence in university awards, and addressing the growing abuse and commercialisation of honorary degrees.
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He said the government had observed a “troubling trend” in which some universities confer honorary doctorates indiscriminately, including on serving public officials, while some recipients go on to adopt the title “Doctor” in official and public use.
“Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he said.
The minister added that misrepresentation of honorary degrees as academic credentials would be treated as academic fraud, attracting legal and reputational consequences.
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Alausa said only universities with established PhD-awarding curricula would be permitted to award honorary degrees, describing the practice of newer institutions with no doctoral programmes conferring such awards as a “misnomer”.
He also said the policy strengthens the Keffi Declaration developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to curb abuse in the award of honorary degrees.
On enforcement, the minister said the federal ministry of education, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) would issue guidelines, monitor convocation ceremonies, and publish an annual list of legitimate honorary degree recipients.
“We will collaborate with the media to discourage the improper attribution of academic titles to people who were awarded honorary degrees,” he said.
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Responding to concerns about university autonomy, Alausa said institutions must still operate within the law.
“Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” the minister added.
Also speaking, Suwaiba Ahmad, the minister of state for education, said the Keffi Declaration was originally developed by vice-chancellors as a guide but lacked legal backing.
She said the new federal approval now gives the declaration “authoritative backing” and allows it to be properly implemented.
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FEC also approved the establishment of a national research and innovation development fund to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s research ecosystem and align investments with national development priorities.
